Ontario SwiftWatch Monitoring Protocol

Ontario SwiftWatch provided in partnership with:

The primary goal of Ontario SwiftWatch is to identify as many active Chimney Swift nest and

roost sites Ontario. Knowing the locations and status of each of these sites will assist in the

 A National Population Monitoring Blitz is performed twice (over two, 3-day periods) to

calculate population trends for Chimney Swifts in Canada

Why are the SwiftWatch Monitoring Activities important?

 Presence/Absence surveys help determine the number of occupied chimneys within the

surveyed areas, and assist in the protection and stewardship of existing nest and

roosting chimneys.

 The National Population Blitz helps identify provincial and national trends in Canada’s

area within your community, and subsequently plan a survey route that traverses the

entire area passing by all potential Chimney Swift nest and roost habitat within your

survey area. The size of each survey route will depend on chimney density and

volunteer preference, but you must be able to cover the entire route on foot in a 65

minute period.

 Large City Adjustment: Consult with your regional coordinator for a list of pre-

determined “potential” chimneys in your area. Please ensure that your route passes by

all likely habitat sites on this list. If incorporating all the sites on the list is not possible, a

volunteer may start with the high priority sites only (i.e. schools, older industrial stacks,

Ontario SwiftWatch Monitoring Protocol

Ontario SwiftWatch provided in partnership with:

 The Presence/Absence Worksheet (PA Worksheet) provides you with the means to

track all chimneys where you observe swifts entering or exiting (Example on pg. 6).

There is no need to submit the worksheet to Ontario SwiftWatch. It is a tool for you, and

your Regional Coordinator, to keep track of the active/observed sites within your survey

area. You will use this worksheet throughout the season, filling in details of Chimney

Swift activity as the season progresses.

 A SwiftWatch Data Entry Form is filled out, and submitted, for every active site

identified (Example on pg. 7). They can also be used to report your count data recorded

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OntarioSwiftWatch

When do I do perform SwiftWatch Monitoring Activities?

 The amount of surveys conducted should be based on volunteer availability and

schedules. However, , we ask that that Presence/Absence surveys are performed at

least once a week during the following stages of the Chimney Swifts life cycle:

o Spring Migration May 14

th

– May 26

th

 The National Population Monitoring Blitz occurs twice over a season; the spring

migration blitz starts on the last Sunday of May each year, and continues twice more 4

and 8 days after your first night of observations. The fall blitz follows the same pattern,

and starts on the last Sunday in July.

Ontario SwiftWatch Monitoring Protocol

Ontario SwiftWatch provided in partnership with:

o National Spring Migration Blitz: May 27, May 31, and June 4;

o National Fall Migration Blitz: July 29, August 2, and August 6;

Ontario SwifWatch Survey Instructions

and roosting sites (i.e. open chimneys).

 Volunteers work with their partner and determine the dates to conduct

Presence/Absence Surveys (at least once a week during the previously mentioned

survey periods, include a few “rain dates” as well).

 Large City Adjustment: When given their survey area, each volunteer will also be

given a list of potentially active chimneys.

 Large City Adjustment: This site list is compiled based on known of Chimney Swift

 Walk your route at least once during daylight hours to identify suitable chimneys before

your first official evening observations. Record the locations of potential chimneys on

your PA Worksheet, You will use this worksheet during the entire season to keep track

of what chimneys have been surveyed and/or confirmed active. Allow yourself extra

time on this trip to ensure no potential chimneys are missed.

 Potential sites are open chimneys (no caps or animal guards) on buildings and/or in

locations that look to be appropriate for chimney swifts to nest or roost in. All open

chimneys can are considered suitable, but our current research shows that Chimney

Ontario SwiftWatch Monitoring Protocol

Ontario SwiftWatch provided in partnership with:

Step 3: Determining presence of Chimney Swifts

 At least twice during each of the four survey periods, start your survey, each night, 45

minutes before sunset moving along your route and noting any Chimney Swift activity

you observe on the PA Worksheet (i.e. did you see swifts flying overhead? circling a

chimney? or entering a chimney?).

 To determine your local sunset time use the following link;

o http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/)

 Watch the chimney until you see a swift enter/exit or until it is too dark to see swifts,

whichever comes first. Mark the presence/number of birds you observe entering the

chimney on your PA Worksheet.

o Site address and/or GPS coordinates

o Date of visit

o Time observations were made (i.e. time you saw swifts entering the

o Number of birds seen entering the chimney

Ontario SwiftWatch Monitoring Protocol

Ontario SwiftWatch provided in partnership with:

 At the end of the SwiftWatch season enter your active site information online using:

Ontario SwiftWatch Monitoring Protocol

Ontario SwiftWatch provided in partnership with:

Ontario SwiftWatch Monitoring Protocol

Ontario SwiftWatch provided in partnership with:

Please complete one form for each nest/roost site

Observer Name: Elisabeth van Stam

Visit Details:

Weather Details: